Scripture to Read: Luke 8:14
Jesus also explained the meaning of the seed that fell among the thorns. God had Luke record this in Luke 8:14, “The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.” These are those who may actually surrender to Christ but never mature in Christ. These people are too in love with what the world has to offer them, so they never mature in Christ. God warns us of this in 1 Timothy 6:17–19. God had Paul rebuke the believers in Corinth when He had Paul tell them in 1 Corinthians 3:1–3, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?” Some of the Christians in Corinth had become so fleshly, chasing the garbage of the world, that the meat of God’s Word was being choked out and they were not producing mature fruit. God warns us throughout the New Testament that we must continually crucify our fleshly desires and choose to pursue Him and His Word so that we are useful tools for His glory and praise.
Challenge & Application
What was the problem for those who allowed the thorns to choke out the Word of God?
How do we keep the thorns out of our lives so God’s Word is not choked out of us?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!